Vol. 11, Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
SV Nalawade, DV Indi, RL Bhilare, DS Thorvae and BS Raskar

Abstract:
Two inoculation techniques viz., clip inoculation in leaf whorl with rusted leaf clips and inoculation of rust urediniospores suspension in leaf whorl were evaluated during 2013-14 and 2017-18 for identification of brown rust resistance sugarcane cultivars. The results showed that most severe brown rust symptoms were observed using leaf whorl inoculation method containing inoculum suspension of 10⁴-10⁵ urediniospores /ml. In the leaf whorl inoculation method, higher average no. of rust pustules (27.96 /inch²) and higher no. of leaves bearing rust pustules (8.8) was recorded as compared to the clip inoculation method (21.22 /inch² and 8.26 respectively). This indicates that the leaf whorl inoculation method is better for screening sugarcane genotypes against brown rust than the clip inoculation method. The leaf whorl inoculation technique enabled rapid screening of a large number of cultivars in field using a small amount of inoculums.